From the minute I could reach the kitchen counter, I have been watching the women in my family prepare traditional Middle Eastern dishes including my Middle Eastern Syrian Salad, Stuffed Kousa, and Shish Tawook Chicken. This recipe honors those women who taught me the art of balancing lemon and garlic to maximize flavor. My family recipe for Lebanese Hummus with Toasted Pine Nuts is quite simple, but the end result is nothing you will find at a store. It is all about the garnish, my friends. One of my favorite healthy and delicious Lebanese recipes.
🛒 Ingredients
- 1 can (400g) chickpeas, drained & rinsed
- 3 tbsp tahini
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic
- 3 tbsp olive oil (plus extra for garnish)
- Salt, to taste
- 2 tbsp pine nuts, toasted
- Paprika & parsley, for garnish
👩🍳 Quick Method
- In a blender, combine chickpeas, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and a little salt. Blend until smooth and creamy. Add a splash of water if too thick.
- Toast pine nuts in a dry pan until golden.
- Spread hummus in a bowl, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with paprika, parsley, and scatter toasted pine nuts on top.
🍽️ Serve With
Warm pita bread, fresh veggies, or as part of a mezze platter.
Secret of Toasted Pine Nuts
Have you ever eaten toasted pine nuts? By taking a few minutes to toast nuts in a dry skillet or bake in the oven at 350 for 10 minutes, you will experience a warm, buttery aroma that is second to none. Toasting helps release the natural oils in the nuts which gives them a deep, rich flavor that will make any dish stand out, but it especially enhances the flavor of hummus!
Add the olive oil, and season with some salt and pepper.
Last you’ll add the ice water, and puree until smooth, adding more water if you want a thinner consistency.
To serve, spread the hummus out on a platter.
Take your freshly chopped parsley and toasted pine nuts and sprinkle them over the top.
Finish with a drizzle of olive oil around the top.
Enjoy your Lebanese Hummus with Toasted Pine Nuts with pita bread, pita chips, or carrots and celery!
